Global Stocktake (GST)

The Global Stocktake (GST) is a core mechanism established under the Paris Agreement to assess collective progress towards achieving its long-term goals of limiting global warming, enhancing adaptation, and mobilising climate finance. Conducted every five years, the GST evaluates the overall effectiveness of climate action taken by parties, providing guidance for countries to strengthen their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and enhance international cooperation.

Background

The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, set a global framework for addressing climate change by limiting the rise in average global temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels, and pursuing efforts to restrict it to 1.5 °C. To ensure accountability and continuous improvement, the agreement introduced the Global Stocktake as a structured process to review progress and identify gaps.
The first GST cycle began in 2021 and concluded at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai in 2023. Subsequent stocktakes will occur every five years, aligning with the submission cycles of NDCs.

Objectives

The Global Stocktake aims to:

• Assess collective progress towards achieving the Paris Agreement goals.
• Provide a scientific and policy-based assessment of mitigation, adaptation, and support (finance, technology, and capacity-building).
• Inform countries in updating and enhancing their NDCs and long-term strategies.
• Promote equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC).
• Strengthen international cooperation by identifying opportunities for collaborative action.

Process and Structure

The GST is organised into three key phases:

1. Information collection and preparation: Data and reports are compiled from sources such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), national communications, and other relevant inputs.
2. Technical assessment: Experts and negotiators evaluate information through workshops, dialogues, and synthesis reports.
3. Consideration of outputs: Findings are presented to the Conference of the Parties, which issues recommendations and guidance for enhancing ambition and action.

Key Themes

The stocktake assesses progress under three overarching themes:

• Mitigation: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning to renewable energy, and enhancing carbon sinks.
• Adaptation: Strengthening resilience, reducing vulnerabilities, and protecting communities and ecosystems from climate impacts.
• Means of implementation and support: Mobilising climate finance, facilitating technology transfer, and building institutional capacity, particularly in developing countries.

Findings of the First Global Stocktake

The first GST concluded at COP28 with several significant observations:

• Current efforts are insufficient to limit warming to 1.5 °C; emissions need to peak before 2025 and be reduced by 43 % by 2030 compared to 2019 levels.
• Fossil fuel use must be phased down, with accelerated deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures.
• Adaptation efforts remain fragmented and underfunded, with a substantial gap in finance for vulnerable nations.
• Developed countries have not fully met their commitment to mobilise 100 billion USD annually for climate finance, highlighting trust and equity concerns.
• Stronger international cooperation and technology transfer are required to close implementation gaps.

Challenges

Despite its importance, the GST faces several challenges:

• Equity concerns: Differing expectations between developed and developing countries regarding responsibility and finance.
• Data limitations: Incomplete or inconsistent national reporting hinders accurate assessment.
• Political negotiations: Reaching consensus on recommendations can be difficult due to conflicting national interests.
• Implementation gap: Translating findings into more ambitious and concrete actions remains a persistent challenge.

Significance

The Global Stocktake is central to the Paris Agreement’s “ratchet mechanism,” ensuring that climate action becomes progressively more ambitious over time. By providing a scientific and political assessment of global progress, the GST enhances transparency, builds trust, and promotes accountability among nations.